American Horror Story: Apocalypse (FX) - premieres on 9/12!

[Disney's Divinity]

American Horror Story's eighth season premieres September 12th, 2018.

[UmbrellaFish]

Remember when I used to be obsessed with "Glee"? Now Ryan Murphy has brought AHS into my life, and it's beautiful. Also, you know, there's no reason why Julie Andrews can't be in this show, too.

I saw Asylum first, and I think it's a masterpiece. All those beautifully written characters: Lana Winters, Sister Jude, Oliver Threadson, Dr. Arden, Sister Eunice, Evil Santa Claus... Fantastic television. Made me fall in love with the beauty of Sarah Paulson's acting. So great.

During Asylum's winter hiatus, I bought Murder House and watched it. I liked it, but I don't feel as strongly about it as Asylum.

I was disappointed with Coven last year, because to me it seemed a lot of wasted potential. Particularly for Kathy Bates' character. And I hated Taissa Farmiga, which was surprising since I really liked Violet in Murder House. And the complete lack of stakes since no one could die. I did preorder the Blu-ray, and I'll rewatch the season and see if my feelings have changed.

But yeah, I am pumped for Freak Show. The clips have looked absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to see Jessica Lange do her take on Dietrich and Sarah Paulson have her mini Tatiana Maslany moment.`

[Disney's Divinity]

Yes, I'm very excited for Freak Show, too! I have to be honest, I probably wouldn't care if I hadn't got drawn into Coven by Kathy Bates, but I'm glad she and Bassett are returning. Plus, the talk of a clown to rival It sounds promising.

I saw AHS when it first started back with Murder House, but didn't care for it at the time (partly because of the actress who moved on to Nashville; who's unfortunately looking for a way to come back to AHS). Later, I picked up the first two discs of it through Netflix, but still didn't like it and still haven't finished it.

I actually started and finished Asylum before Coven aired its finale. I think Asylum is less scatter-brained than Coven, although the concept wasn't something that drew me in. The only part I ended up disliking after seeing the whole thing was the aliens. Everything else worked for me in the end.

I enjoyed Coven, but I think it suffered because the possibilities were so huge. I think this show works more for Ryan Murphy because he basically gets to re-start every year with new characters/stories, so he never gets bored. Unfortunately, I think Coven had so much to offer that it ended up never calming down and focusing on the character development.

Also, you know, there's no reason why Julie Andrews can't be in this show, too.

She could always just show up and sing like Stevie Nicks.

[Disney's Divinity]

I enjoyed the premiere! My thoughts:

- The clown definitely is terrifying--not so much in the first scene he's in, but when he's terrorizing the children later on.
- I honestly didn't know two people attached together could hear one another's thoughts, so I was freaked out by that, too.
- I'm wondering what is with the mother and son who came to the show? He seemed a little off himself... I wonder if they'll dienext week seeing that preview.
- I have to be honest, the guy with the deformed hands had me thinking he was a hermaphrodite at first. And then I thought maybe he had two penises. The Nightcrawler commercial only made me keep thinking of that, btw. And then I thought maybe Jessica Lange's character was the hermaphrodite, and then a transexual, and then possibly a twin (with that shot in the middle of the singing scene of her in a different outfit).
- Perhaps the killer clown is Lange's character's son?

The small lady is so cute, btw. I know that's probably insulting to her, but I couldn't help thinking that whenever she was onscreen.

[UmbrellaFish]

I've watched the premiere three times now, and each time I like it a little better than before.

I love Elsa Mars. If she continues to be written well, I think she'll become the best character they've ever had for Jessica Lange. I knew there was going to be some reveal regarding her legs, and until the end I kept thinking she might be transexual, too. I especially like that she's a bit of a Marlene Dietrich clone, but she hates Marlene Dietrich. However, the only part of the episode I haven't warmed up to was her "Life on Mars" number. I get that it was partly fantasy and all, but I would have appreciated a more subdued, cabaret tone. What I did find interesting during that song was Elsa dressed up in a Pierrot costume in that one shot. I read once that Jessica Lange had trained with a professional mime artist early in her career. Perhaps we'll see some of that training in this season, maybe through flashbacks in pre-WWII Europe or something?

Sarah Paulson is pretty fantastic as Dot and Bette, although I'm a bit worried that I can already guess the way their character arcs are going to end. I really hope I'm wrong, though. I like Evan Peters this season so far-- he's pretty sexy. As for Kathy Bates, at first I was confused by her accent-- turns out it's a Baltimore accent, which makes sense because I thought she sounded like John Travolta in "Hairspray." I think Kathy Bates' character is in love with Elsa.

I never had a fear for clowns, but Twisty might just do it. He's very creepy. I'm excited to see his story line merge with the freaks a bit more. Speaking of "the freaks," I thought the people showcased this episode were really great. I hope The Illustrated Seal gets more screentime, and I'm fascinated by Meep the Geek. You're right that Ma Petite is very cute-- yeah, that's probably insulting, but so far that's the only function her character plays on the show, to be "cute."

As for the mother and son who saw the performance, I've read some spoilers and I don't think they'll be killed in the next episode. Apparently the son, Dandy, wants to join the Freak Show. ...Maybe Twisty will make that more feasible for him?

- I honestly didn't know two people attached together could hear one another's thoughts, so I was freaked out by that, too.

Is that true? Can real conjoined twins actually hear each other's thoughts like that? I thought it was the show using poetic license, and was definitely surprised when the first voiceover happened.

- Perhaps the killer clown is Lange's character's son?

I didn't think about that. Maybe he could be a spurned lover, even?

Anyway, definitely loved the premiere and I can't wait until next week's 90-minute episode!

[Disney's Divinity]

As for Kathy Bates, at first I was confused by her accent-- turns out it's a Baltimore accent, which makes sense because I thought she sounded like John Travolta in "Hairspray."

I thought the same thing! Yeah, she seemed a little overly devoted to her. I'm a little disappointed in Bates' character right now, but I guess that's to be expected after what she had last year.

As for the mother and son who saw the performance, I've read some spoilers and I don't think they'll be killed in the next episode.

It does feel too soon for that to happen. I'm still wondering about the rhyme or reason to Twisty right now. He kept the two children, killed the parents of the boy, and I noticed the first couple we saw him kill mentioned something about not wanting to have a baby before he came up to them. Plus, the way he was acting towards the children he'd locked up seemed like a child having a tantrum.

Is that true? Can real conjoined twins actually hear each other's thoughts like that? I thought it was the show using poetic license, and was definitely surprised when the first voiceover happened.

Maybe you're right--it could be a choice in order to make the two sisters more unsettling. I agree with you, I'm kind of already expecting how their storyline will go, too.

[Disney's Divinity]

I just wanted to say I really enjoyed the scenes where Dandy and Twisty were interacting. I wonder if Twisty only decided not to kill him because he seems to still have the mentality of a child (he has to have some kind of impairment). Nice to see Patti LaBelle and Angela Bassett, too!

Any thoughts on the musical numbers? They don't bother me, since they go with the story, but I've seen people complain about them on other forums. *sigh*

[Atlantica]

I will have to wait a jolly long time to see this in the UK, but am extremely excited for it !

But, I must ask a question … I've been looking at the hashtag / tagline … and I honestly can't make it out ! Been trying for weeks now I thought it was 'We Sin & Are All Freaks' but it doesn't work with the lettering …. is it a different language ? Please help, its been doing my head in !!

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I will have to wait a jolly long time to see this in the UK, but am extremely excited for it !

But, I must ask a question … I've been looking at the hashtag / tagline … and I honestly can't make it out ! Been trying for weeks now I thought it was 'We Sin & Are All Freaks' but it doesn't work with the lettering …. is it a different language ? Please help, its been doing my head in !!

It's "Wir Sind Alle Freaks," which in English means "We Are All Freaks" (the original is German).

[UmbrellaFish]

I thought this week's episode was really solid. Dandy is so twisted, I can't wait to see more from him. I think you're right about Twisty having some kind of impairment, Disney's Divinity, or some sort of Peter Pan syndrome. I felt very bad for poor little Meep. He was my favorite, disregarding the fact that his whole act was just biting the heads off chickens.

Any thoughts on the musical numbers? They don't bother me, since they go with the story, but I've seen people complain about them on other forums. *sigh*

I don't have any problem with the anachronistic choices-- I rather like that. But I still think they're overproduced. That's nitpicky, I suppose. I don't mind more performances, though. Especially ones with Elsa Mars.

By the way, I recommend watching the AHS videos on YouTube about the "freak" actors on the show. I think it's called "Meet the Extra-Ordinary Actors" or something. All the interviews were directed by Ryan Murphy. The actors all had very interesting things to say, especially The Illustrated Seal and Amazon Eve (who is transgender, btw).

[Atlantica]

It's "Wir Sind Alle Freaks," which in English means "We Are All Freaks" (the original is German).

Oh my goodness, thank you so much ! I really appreciate you letting me know, was so unbelievably irritating every time I looked at it !

[Disney's Divinity]

Pretty much all I'm enjoying right now are the scenes with Twisty, Dandy, Patti Labelle and Frances Conroy. Kind of disappointing what they're doing with Bates, Bassett, and Lange right now.

I did like the actor playing the spirit/ghost of the man with two faces, even if that plot isn't working for me. It could be this season just isn't for me, personally, but I hope it picks up.

[UmbrellaFish]

I'm just a little bit "hmm" about these past two episodes. The Edward Mordrake character was terribly creepy, but his function in the story was so lame. Just a catalyst for the the characters to share their backstories-- regardless of how interesting that backstory was, I felt that was a cop out and a waste of a potentially terrifying antagonist.

I thought Kathy Bates put in the best performance of the series of far in "Edward Mordrake, Part One." I really love Dandy, but I'm not so sure the series was ready to let go of Twisty. The way he died was especially poor. Such a fascinating character deserved a more climatic end. What Dandy does from this point on will be great to watch.

[Disney's Divinity]

I agree, I think Twisty died too soon. I was surprised it happened, tbh.

[UmbrellaFish]

If American Horror Story can be rated on the number of scares it provides, then last night's episode was a banner episode for me. Particularly when Dandy was cutting up Matt Bomer's body but he was still alive-- yeesh, I was horrified. And I couldn't watch when the Strongman was breaking the Surgeon's hands. And the fantasy scene when one of Sarah Paulson's heads is already dead, but the other one isn't... I was falling a little bit out of love with the show with the past two episodes, but this brought me straight back.

I hope Finn Wittrock returns next season because he's doing great work as Dandy. The moment when he leaves his mother and goes to his bedroom was especially chilling for me.

[Disney's Divinity]

I agree, I really hope Finn Wittrock will return in following years.

I found the fantasy of the different characters in museum tanks the creepiest part of the episode. Especially when Dot was still alive on the bed with a dead Bette--very hard to watch/imagine. I remember when the first episode aired, they had clips from the whole season and they had one shot of Ma Petite being drowned in a container. I imagine she's one of the characters who will end up in the museum.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Yeah, I thought that this past episode was one of the best so far. I do miss Twisty, but I think I don't miss him as much now that Dandy is basically taking over. This is definitely my second favorite season out of the bunch (with Murder House being my favorite).

[Disney's Divinity]

I forgot to comment the other day, but the season has really picked up for me. Poor Ma Petite, I know she's going to die eventually since neither the fantasy of her dying or when she almost died looked the same as the scene previewed at the end of the pilot. I was thinking, and I wouldn't doubt it's still possible, that Elsa may be the one that kills her, since Ma Petite had to have heard her conversation with the seal guy (when they were in her tent and then she asked him to hand Ma Petite to her before he left).

Poor Dot and Bette. Since Dot is looking so forward to splitting despite the fact that her sister could die, it's pretty predictable that Dot will end up being the one that dies. Although...on another forum, someone pointed out how in the opening sequence, the twins switch heads with another doll at the beginning and then the two heads are kissing later in the sequence--perhaps Dandy will have himself surgically tied to Bette? I'm not sure that would really be possible, but of course TV takes liberties with reality.

[UmbrellaFish]

I've been busy lately, so I haven't had a lot of time to talk about things I'd like to, like the new Cinderella trailer or that great TLM thread (which I'll be getting to). I wanted to write here before I forgot what happened in the episode.

I have never felt as trepidatious and honestly, actually even a little bit queasy, watching AHS as I was when I saw what happened to Meryl Streep's daughter's character (It's Grace, isn't it?). Body horror gets me and this was terrifying. Now, the reason the father had it done seems pretty flimsy and ill-planned (I mean, she's still easily identifiable as his daughter) but I still found the scene incredibly disturbing. I haven't been able to get it out of my head all day.

I have definitely enjoyed the show a lot more than I did at this point in Coven's season. Is Asylum level? No. Is it Murder House level? No, I don't think so, at least not yet.

[Disney's Divinity]

I thought this week's episode was one of the best so far. Sad to see Frances Conroy go so soon though. I thought she would last to the finale somehow. I was thinking the psychiatrist would be revealed at the end. With rumors that this season will be tied into Asylum, I was thinking it might be the serial killer that rapes Sarah Paulson's character in Asylum or perhaps the doctor.